Reed Smith recently announced that two energy transactions partners – Gary Johnson and Edward Rogan – have relocated to the firm’s Austin office.
Johnson will continue to split time in Houston, but Rogan is moving from San Francisco. The firm has 12 attorneys in the state capitol.
“Gary and Ed continue a pattern of growth in Austin that connects the region’s growing economy to our core strengths in energy, technology, life sciences and health care,” Jeff Layne, managing partner of Reed Smith’s Austin office, said in a statement.
Rogan’s practice has developed a particular focus on clean and renewable energy. He represents Vestas, the world’s leading manufacturer, seller, installer and servicer of wind turbines.
“The expansion of renewable and clean energy sources, as well as the transmission and storage infrastructure to support them, is a booming area of business and practice right now,” Rogan said in a statement. “Texas is one of the fastest growing states in terms of renewable energy project development, and Austin’s central location is the perfect base for serving clients wherever there is work to be done.”
Johnson has handled billions of dollars of deals for upstream, midstream and downstream energy companies over his career. The Fort Worth native has roots in Austin, too – he received his law degree from the University of Texas and he and his wife have endowed a scholarship there for first generation law students.
The Austin office reassignments follow a series of moves Reed Smith has made in Texas over the last four months.
In Dallas, the firm added Nigel Stark, a corporate partner who focuses on tech transactions and outsourcing, from K&L Gates in February. And toward the end of last year, Chauncey Lane, a former attorney for the Securities and Exchange Commission, joined Reed Smith from Husch Blackwell.
In Houston, Reed Smith added depth to its energy team by bringing on Nicolas Borda, a partner from Haynes and Boone’s Mexico City office, and associate A.J. Wissinger, who was in-house at LyondellBasell working on health, safety and environmental matters.